Pacers top Wizards in Game 6; rematch with Heat is next

WASHINGTON — For the Indiana Pacers, it was more ugly than pretty, more difficult than easy.

But through a tumultuous postseason — almost a microcosm of their whole season — the Pacers got what they wanted.

Indiana will play in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat and have home-court advantage, the goal the Pacers established at the beginning of the season and never shied from even when their season began to hit potholes.

"We just keep a bubble," said Pacers center Roy Hibbert, whose off-and-on disappearing act was one of the more baffling late-season developments. "We don't try to let our emotions show too much. Sometimes it does. But we stuck together."

The Pacers eliminated the Washington Wizards 93-80 in Game 6 of their conference semifinals series on Thursday and advanced to the conference finals for the second consecutive season.

It was an unusual series: The road team won every game except the second, won by the Pacers in Indianapolis. Wizards coach Randy Wittman joked before the game he wanted to put yellow giveaway T-shirts on the seats — instead of red, white and blue — so the arena looked more like Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

"Don't really have an answer for you. Just one of those things," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said before the game.

GALLERY: Top shots from Pacers-Wizards series

Game 6 in Washington -- Pacers 93, Wizards 80: David West celebrates as the final seconds wind down on Indiana's series-clinching victory. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 in Indianapolis -- Pacers 86, Wizards 82: Indiana forward David West (21) and Washington forward Nene (42) fight for position on the block during the first half. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

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The Wizards showed tremendous growth this season, finishing 44-38 and securing the fifth seed in the East. They knocked off the Chicago Bulls in the first round and headed into the Indiana series with a legitimate chance to upset the Pacers.

Washington will head into the 2014-15 as a team capable of finishing in the top four in the East. In Beal and point guard John Wall, the Wizards have one of the best backcourts in the league, and they're expected to improve.

Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld has done a great job filling the roster with capable role players, but he faces challenges in the offseason. Forward Trevor Ariza and center Marcin Gortat — valuable contributors — are free agents this summer. Gortat has enjoyed his time with the Wizards, and his agent, Guy Zucker, attended several Wizards playoff games.

The Wizards must also develop rookie Otto Porter, who was injured for a stretch of the season and did not play many significant minutes.

Grunfeld also must decide how he will deal with Wittman, who is the final year of his contract. It is expected Grunfeld will reward him with an extension.

HIGHLIGHTS: Pacers close out Wizards to advance

With the right offseason moves, the Wizards should be even better and more fun to watch next season. The fans recognized Washington's season with a standing ovation in the final minute.

"Nobody expected us to be here," Wall said. "I think a lot of teams respect us now. We definitely made Indiana earn it."

Now, can the Pacers rescue their season with a series victory over the Heat and a trip to the NBA Finals?

Last season, the Pacers were the hungry upstart against the Heat. This season, the Pacers were the hunted more than the hunters, and they struggled with that dynamic, especially late in the season.

But the Pacers are right where they wanted to be, and though they have struggled since March, they have played the Heat well. They split the four games this season. Indiana beat Miami 84-83 at home on March 26, and the Heat beat the Pacers at home 98-86 on April 11.

"I have confidence that the next time we play at home, we're going to win," Vogel said.

LeBron James and Paul George have company. Eight former All-Stars are playing in the East finals between the Heat and Pacers, along with 21 other players. USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph ranks them all. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports